This weekend things have started to move on the Andes Moto Extreme website development. Walter Colebatch got in touch about his latest project and through mutual support of each others projects I am now following on from my work on Sibirsky Extreme to now focus my efforts on the new website.
Sherri Jo Wilkins has also joined the team and will be the base camp manager, photographer and videographer. Other members of the team include:
I am keen to progress onto the next stage with this now. I created a first mould to determine the amount of materials I would use and highlight any flaws and errors in my production process. The trick now is to create a fairing then glue of bolt it to the DRZ stock headlight surround and fill in the gaps with high density insulation foam and car body filler.
My working conditions are not ideal as I don’t have usable garage space so I am relegated to a cold and slightly leaky conservatory. This affects curing times but on the plus side if I do make a mistake the resin doesn’t set so fast on me that I can’t rectify them. It’s all part of the challenge and learning curve but it immensely satisfying to create something new from bits of old bike.
Apologies for any menu issues any of you might have had yesterday. I did an upgrade to the site and expanded the menu to include the everywherevirtually social networks. Only problem was after trying out a few different plugins I was a little zealous in removing the ones I didn’t need and accidentally took out the one controlling the external menu links. Oops!
I am currently in the process of researching and developing a larger rally style fairing for the DRZ. My goal is to adventurise the 400SM and I realise that the fixings between the S & E are different for each so part of my research is making something that will fit them all or at the very least create one fairing and brackets that will adapt to each variant.
Right now I am working around the existing headlight. I am also investigating how the design could accommodate better lighting should someone want to upgrade in the future. I will either create a separate “deluxe” full spec fairing or make a version that can accommodate a lighting upgrade. I just have to see how everything fits.
I mocked this up in Adobe Fireworks. I am in the process of making the plug for this.
Good lighting always comes at a premium and I would not be getting into that side of things. I just want to make a decent fairing that does not cost the Earth and is easy to install without a complicated framework behind.
I would be interested to know if there is a market for this sort of thing. I would be happy to adapt the design to accommodate other makes of bike provided there are sufficient numbers… lets say over 10.
This is just a straw poll to see if it is worth my while. Either reply here, PM me or email [email]motoeverywhere@gmail.com[/email]
It is that time of year again when the snow starts to fall and thoughts of the next winter season enter the mind. The video below shows a few highlights from a ski trip to Lech Zürs am Arlberg in 2011. Find out why this resort in Vorarlberg has earned its well deserved reputation.
This video was filmed right at the end of the 2011 season in April 2011. By sheer good fortune it snowed the week before our arrival and then the sun shone for the duration.
It was a perfect combination of fresh snow and blue skies. Coupled with the beauty of Lech Zürs am Arlberg and the extensive nature of the ski area you could not have asked for more.
Join prolific adventure motorcyclist and Siberia aficionado Walter Colebatch and his friends on a ride of discovery into Central Asia and the darkest depths of Siberia.
Sibirsky Extreme was the journey that pioneered new routes across Siberia, including the legendary BAM Road.
This journey also features the Tuva Track, Vilyuisky Trakt and the Road of Bones.
Full of interactions with locals, as well as stunning scenery. If you ever dreamt of exploring Siberia on two wheels, this is the DVD for you!
Enjoy the main feature and then feast on the fantastic extras that really give you a feel for life on the road (and off it) in some of the most remote parts of the World
Main Feature: 31min
Walter’s Extras (people, places, lots of river crossings, the ups, the downs and the girls!): 73min
NTSC Version For North American customers & PAL for Europe & the rest of the world
I was fortunate enough to visit Provence recently. In particular the area close to Mallemort and the Luberon, made famous by the book on Provence by Peter Mayle and the subsequent film starring Russel Crowe, “A Good year”.
I had visited this same region back in 2007 and had flagged a few places I wanted to explore in greater detail on a return visit. One location in particular was the Gorges du Regalon. On a drive from Mallemort to Gordes, the hilltop town featured in the film I mentioned above, I spotted a little sign to a gorge.
I had heard no mention of any gorges as this area is all about wine, lavender, retired Brits dabbling in a spot of golf and generally taking it easy. Nevertheless there was this little sign and at the time I drove up the dusty white limestone track. There were signs saying “Payant” and suggesting I pay at the hut. But it was vacant and there was nothing to impede my progress. I parked up but the Gorge was not immediately within my sights and I was pressed for time. That was 2007.
Fast forward 4 years and I found myself at the same spot. As if time had stood still. The same empty shed with broken windows, signs still saying you needed to pay for parking but no evidence of tickets in other cars or an attendant.
The site has a car park on the left as you drive in, a secondary car park to the right and a private road leading to a farm. There are some signs but it’s not overtly clear where you have to go. I just looked at the gap in the rock face behind the trees and headed in the general direction of the gorge. It was then that I picked up the signs for the trail.
You steadily walk up what appears to be a dried out river bed and then emerge onto another dusty road which passes a derelict building on your left and also a chalky embankment. A few hundred metres on and the road curves to the left and up to a number of olive groves. I took a well worn shortcut to my right into a copse of trees and followed the trail directly to the gorge entrance. At this point an olive grove will be on your left.
There are signs informing you that it is private land but you may pass if you respect the boundaries of the olive grove. from this point the gorge is in full view and it will take you an hour and a half to go from one end to the other. I say an hour and a half as you may want to stop for photos and take in the atmosphere.
From the outset it is quite clear that this is a dynamic environment. There is a water depth measure at the start of the gorge which is high enough to indicate substantial amounts of water can flow through here in a storm. In addition to this you have a lot of loose rock and boulders descending from above. Some are the size of apples others the size of a large car. Even a small rockfall could prove fatal. It is wise to keep your eyes and ears open despite the place exuding a sense of calm and tranquillity.
Without describing every twist and turn it is easier to break the gorge down into three sections. The beginning is predominately rocky riverbed with an easily navigable path and quite a lot of foliage. There is some scrambling to be done but nothing too taxing for someone who is fit and healthy.
The middle section which starts pretty much after you enter the cave with two entry points narrows considerably and does require all hands and feet in order to clamber over rocks on the way up or shimmy down them on the return leg. While I tackled this in the dry I have seen photos of this section with standing water which could be of a depth from a few centimetres to a metre. There are advisories all over the place suggesting it would be unwise to tackle the gorge in a rainstorm or immediately after a prolonged period of bad weather.
The final section opens up considerably but because of the foliage and tree canopy cover it is easy to forget you are still in a gorge until you catch a glimpse of it above you through the trees. Shortly afterwards you come to a split in the trail. 0.5km away is L’agranier and to the right is Mérindol which is 6.1km away.
I took the fork to the left as I knew I didn’t have much time left before sunset and thus could not complete the full circular route. I walked up hill between the ravines for maybe half a kilometre but saw nothing of note and decided on this occasion to be satisfied with my traverse of the gorge. I returned back the same way I had come and was rewarded with the warm light of the setting sun.
I was all set with my video camera to capture the summer storm of summer storms. The local weather report was talking of golf ball sized hailstones that would smash car windows. Not having any option other than to leave the car on the street I decided if meteorological armageddon was about to descend upon me and the car I might as well get it on film for posterity.
Needless to say it didn’t happen. It passed to the North in the hills of the Muehlviertel. As I stood in the street willing the storm clouds to change direction and give me a light show I was reminded of a film. The 2005 Steven Speilberg version of War of the Worlds. There were two scenes. One where the protagonists were trying to escape the alien tripods by catching a ferry. When all seemed calm one of the machines loomed up over the illuminated hill behind the town. The second scene was when the US army was bombarding the alien craft with artillery fire. Again the flashes were coming from behind a far off hill.
The lack of cars in the street and the sounds emanating from the nearby freight shunting yard at the Steelworks also gave the night an unusual atmosphere.
